Fri, 23 Feb 2018 01:46:44 -0800WeeblySat, 16 Dec 2017 13:03:00 GMThttp://www.macmaniacs.org/macmusings/our-interview-with-tristan-december-15-2017Tristan is currently on tour in Dublin with Good Mourning Mrs. Brown but took time to answer some of the questions you have left for him here on the website forum and on the Facebook page. Enjoy!

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First of all, congratulations on having a very successful tour with Kristina and Mark. It’s wonderful that so many of your supporters were able to see you perform on stage again and that you had the opportunity to put on the dancing shoes for a few weeks.

Now on to Mrs. Brown’s Boys. After a break of a few months, you’re back and performing close to home. How has this latest leg of the tour been going?

It has been great. We are in the midst of the final weekend which is immense in the 3Arena Dublin, and I’m loving it again. Finishing a tour in Dublin is amazing and especially in a venue so large and well-known at home is great. Last weekend was Belfast which may as well been the Siberia. It was that cold, but what a beautiful place. We were lucky enough that a few of us got to go into see the set of Game of Thrones and sit in the thrones and hold the swords. It was great craic!! The tour has been great but at the same time come Monday I’m flying home and can’t wait to get back to the girls. They came over for a month to break up this trip, but three months away from home has been a lot.I would imagine that in a show like this hilarity reigns supreme and no two shows are the same, but are there any especially funny moments that stand out or something that makes you always expect the unexpected?

The show is great. I never get bored of it. We have had a cast re-giggle for a few shows now for different reasons so new faces always freshen the show up as well as all the gag changes! Agnes is going all out being in our home city, so you don’t know what to expect show to show. I’m still a Mormon and still trying my best to not crack when the script gets thrown out the window—haha. I love the Mormon scene. It’s still my favourite, but I love Conor Maloney who plays Father Quinn on this leg. He is hilarious so I watch his scenes every night.

You mentioned that you are now involved in the production side of the shows, so what do you do in that regard both prior to the shows and during them? Do you still have an acting role?

We have a lot going on at the moment in production, so it has been quite full on recently. Before the show, we set up the guest lists and seating plans along with helping the load ins which is essentially setting up the stage and helping with wardrobe departments, catering rooms, merchandise stands, production offices and anything else too. During the show, we set up for the following day and at the same time we are preparing visas, flights, hotels, and travel packs for the upcoming Australian/ New Zealand tour coming up in January. We also have an upcoming series of the tv show being made soon enough, so we are literally out the door and working long, long hours but I am learning a new skill and absolutely loving it. I’m still acting (if that’s what you can call it)—hahaha.

What are some of the challenges of doing a show like Mrs. Brown’s Boys? (either from a personal standpoint or just from observing the complexity of putting on a show like this)

The show is a complete beast and for sure it has a lot of challenges, but there is a great team in place. I would always imagine that going into anything that is so well-oiled and very much untouched for years and years that it would be hard to integrate into that. But they all made me feel so welcome so the difficulty is really just in learning how to do a particular job but more importantly how they do a particular job. It’s a process but one I’m loving! I just like learning, to be honest, so it’s all great for me. I’m learning a lot of roles at the same time so I couldn’t tell you the responsibilities of one particular role! The same as anything when you are trying to do something you never had before the hardest part is not losing confidence when you make mistakes. I used to find that difficult and would beat myself up for not knowing what I was doing and feeling insecure about it but I’m a lot more comfortable now with the fact that I shouldn’t know this because I’ve never had to know it and I’m learning as I go.

Mrs. Brown’s Boys starts up with a new show in Australia and New Zealand early in 2018. Will you be involved then as well? Have you done any rehearsals or preparations for that show.

Yeah, we have a new show in Australia/New Zealand about to start mid-January— 'For the Love Of Mrs. Brown'—that we are in the process of setting up but we won’t have rehearsals for that until the cast land in Oz. I haven’t actually seen that show yet or read the script but I’m making up the packs for the cast now with audio so I will know it pretty well pretty soon! I will be working in production on the show, but I won’t be acting in it this time—then again I may streak the stage for the craic!! The tour is a little shorter this time round—six weeks in Oz and two in New Zealand.

Is there a typical show day for Mrs. Brown’s Boys?

Not really. Like most shows, the general idea is once there are no hiccups your days are pretty set once the show is up and running, but again it all works show to show! The tv show is a different animal all together, but we will worry about that once this tour is shut.

And now for a few nosy questions...

If you could choose any place in the world other than Ireland or Australia to live, where would it be?I’ve been lucky to live in a lot of great places. I miss Boston a lot. To be fair, it’s Baltic, but I could live there. There are still a lot of places I’d love to go but you have to make the best of wherever you are and right now I wouldn’t change a thing about where we live.

Last movie you sawMudbound

Last show or play you sawI just went to see Columbia Mills in Dublin last month. That was a great night, but before that I think it may have been U2 in London. I have a big Wiggles show coming up with the girls when I get back to Sydney next week which should be loads of fun. You find yourself walking around singing the tunes to yourself.

Latest Echo milestoneEvery day is a milestone to be fair she is great craic. She has the tune of ABC now. She is always singing but she doesn’t know all the letters just yet but she dances all the time and she sings a lot. She will be 2 before we know it. She is the best though—always laughing, always smiling and wants to do everything herself with no help and always has so much to get done that she doesn’t have time for us!!!

Are Tahyna and Echo able to travel with you these days? I know it’s a little more challenging when the baby becomes a toddler and is into everything.They don’t get to travel all the time with me, so we break the trips up. I wouldn’t have been away for such a long stint, but we had the Christmas specials, then two legs of MBB tour and in between that was my dance tour with Kris, so it turned into a really long trip. They came out to Ireland for a month in between and we traveled the country. I can’t wait to get home to them now and have the month off, so it will be pure family time.

A couple of years ago, we asked you about Saturday Night Live as well as skits with Jimmy Fallon, Jonah Hill etc. We’ve been laughing lots lately on the website forum about James Corden and his Carpool Karaoke, Crosswalk the Musical, and just about anything else he does. Have you seen any of his nonsense? Otherwise, who is your favorite comic actor/host these days?Yeah, I’ve seen some of it. I think it’s fun but not really my cup of tea. I still love Fallon. I think he is the best at what he does for those skits. Tom [Bergeron] is still the best 'host'. He is an all rounder now where he is so natural and like a classic host should be. You get the feeling with a lot of presenters now that anyone can do it, but there is a big, big difference in my eyes between a host and a presenter and Tom in my eyes is the best. I may be biased because I have seen Tom up close and firsthand but he is #1.

Do you have any plans to get back to the states? (That’s a question we get asked often)I’ll be taking a trip back in March, but it’s been a long time since I’ve been in America so they may not let me back in!! There were a few times I was close to going back to the show, but for different reasons things didn’t work out but I’m happy with the direction my family is going in now so if we end up going back at some stage it would be great to catch up with our friends there.​

We had great seats in the centre of the 3rd row. The theatre is very small and intimate, seating about 200. The setting felt even more intimate when the curtain went up to reveal Mark no stage just a floor, so close to everyone, the front row could have touched them as they danced past. All very up close and personal.

Throughout the show Mark would start a song and Kristina and Tristan would come on stage about half way through the song. This enabled them to do their costume changes, as apart from about 3 numbers where Mark sang with no dancing, we were able to enjoy lots of dancing by Kristina and Tristan.

I can't remember the exact order of how things went or which songs—I should have made notes ha-ha!! The first dance was a Quickstep to "I've got Rhythm", what an opening number! Then Tristan changed out of his tails and came on stage and sat and had a chat with Mark (to get his breath back he said!) They chatted about Tristan returning to Ireland and how he was loving dancing in his home country and finally in his home town—Bray is just down the road. He admitted he was a bad Irishman in that he hadn't really ever left Bray and hadn't seen much of Ireland before, and was enjoying driving around with his family seeing the sights and pretending he knew everything when in fact he was just reading the signs. They also covered what Tristan had been doing since leaving Strictly and that he was continuing with Mrs. Brown's Boys after the tour ended. Oh, and Tristan's Auntie was sitting in the front row, and she had a little dance with Mark during one of his songs.

So, as Tristan was now in a vest we had a fast number, Salsa or Samba—can't remember if this was before or after the chat, but after he joked about dripping sweat on the front row as they were so close. They also danced a beautiful Rumba to "Imagine" and a brilliant Charleston.

Mark introduced Kristina, again talking about what she has been up to since Strictly, her little girl, Mila, and her new tour starting in the new year. She also said that she is so happy that she managed to persuade Tristan to take to the dance floor again with her after 2 years, and it took ALOT of persuading. Thank you Kristina!!

There is an audience participation part—4 volunteers from the audience go on stage and the rest of the audience also get to learn all the arm and hand moves to the dance. This was funny when Tristan got embarrassed about having to put the microphone in his pocket to free up his arms to demonstrate some moves —'I'm not putting that in my pocket in front of Auntie', so he moved to other side of the stage to demonstrate along with the 'hip rotation' which caused lots of oohs and ahhs. They divided the audience in half, Kristina V Tristan, and Tristan's side won.

There was a delightful dance by 6 local children from Xquisite Dance School. The youngest pair were 8, another couple 10/11 and the 3rd couple I guess around 16. This girl's Mum used to go to dance lessons with Tristan's Mum which is how they knew him—definitely stars of the future.

As I mentioned earlier, I can't remember the order or what songs were used for all the dances, but they did everything! Apart from the dances I have already mentioned, we had Waltz, Foxtrot and Cha Cha—but the Contemporary dance they did to "Wicked Game" was incredible as was the Argentine Tango/Paso fusion. The finale was the Jive to "Don't Stop Me Now", and the sparkly shirt made an appearance to loud cheers, another incredible dance.

There was a Q and A, and here are some of the things that were said. If I misquote anything, my apologies, this is all from memory!

Tristan has hardly danced for 2 years and now only wants to do it on his terms.

There was a comment about his shoes, from which he said they were I think 15 years old, and proceeded to show the holes in them, but that doesn't matter he said, 'It lets the smell out!' Re Strictly, he didn't like being told to get a fake tan and shave his chest, which he refused to do, or wearing sparkly shirts. "That's why I left." He joked about Anton being the hairiest person ever, and they would both hide to avoid the shaving! H

He doesn't watch Strictly at all, but did talk about DWTS Ireland, what a great show it is and everyone should watch it and get behind it as they have fabulous pro dancers. Kristina also mentioned the new signing Robert Rowinski, who she has danced with in her previous show, an amazing dancer.

During the Q and A, Tristan excused himself and disappeared off stage, returning shortly after to explain that his knee cap had popped out and he had gone to sort it out!! Amazingly he then managed to dance that incredible Jive!!

There were obviously questions about the current series of Strictly— one being Len V's Shirley. Kristina talked about how she loved Len and always respected his comments when she was on the show. She liked the way he always added a touch of humour to his critique without being nasty and there was always something positive. She could see why the public were saying what they were about Shirley, but she knows her stuff and will probably grow into the role like Darcy who also had a difficult 1st series. As for Bruno, she doesn't know what he's on!! She said she wished the judges would be less negative and give the celebs something positive to work on instead of demoralising them. As a pro she would go into the training room on a Monday morning and often her celeb would just want to walk out as they felt so bad after Saturday's comments. Tristan said on Len V's Shirley, he would always take a positive comment from Shirley over one from Len.......

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It was an brilliant and enjoyable show. The way Mark linked it all together with his chat and singing— excellent vocals btw—and his version of "Take on Me" was fab. As I have said, so much dancing from Kristina and Tristan, quick costume changes, such a great partnership and of course the humour...

I am so grateful to Kristina for convincing Tristan to get back on the dance floor and tour! Even though I had to travel to Dublin to see them as there was nothing local to where I live, it was worth it. I really hope that Kristina and Tristan can do another show/tour, maybe covering the areas of the UK they missed this time. The ticket sales speak for themselves, I believe nearly all venues were sold out.

]]>Mon, 13 Nov 2017 22:18:31 GMThttp://www.macmaniacs.org/macmusings/a-fans-review-an-evening-with-kristina-and-tristan-by-nadiaThanks to Nadia for this recap of An Evening With Kristina Rihanoff and Tristan MacManus in Ilkley.

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Hi guys,

I just wanted to let you know that I thoroughly enjoyed this opportunity of watching Tristan and Kristina dance. This was an unusual venue for a dance show. It’s quite an old fashioned hall and the seats weren’t the most comfortable but for a sleepy Yorkshire small town on a Monday evening the show was well attended. The singer/ compere Mark Read introduced Tristan and asked him a few questions about life after ‘Strictly’. Tristan is clearly very happy doing less dancing and being involved with a comedy show featuring one of his ex—Strictly partners, Jennifer Gilbey—‘Mrs Brown’s Boys’. He said he enjoyed being behind the camera, in production. He said dance will always play a large part in his life as that is how he met his wife Tahyna with whom he now has a beautiful daughter, Echo.

He’s clearly a little in awe of Kristina, telling the audience what a wonderful dancer she was and he was quite humble about his own dancing skills, e.g. in the Argentine Tango. But they danced beautifully together and I loved that Argentine Tango and their Charleston and Tristan really came alive with the jive at the end. All Kristina’s costumes were absolutely gorgeous, she suits every colour! Tristan’s clothing was quite casual at times but it didn’t detract from the show.

In the question and answer session he was asked about his time on DWTS and Strictly and said very clearly he wouldn’t do that type of show again. He was very careful not to offend anyone in the audience who still takes the shows at face value and understood why people watched the show and said it was great Saturday night entertainment, but it just wasn’t for him.

I really enjoyed the show and would happily see it again. Both of them came across as happy, contented people who just wanted to entertain their audience. Just lovely.

sarah west‏@SarahMMWestAn amazing show by amazing people. @TristanMacManus this moment meant so much to me. Thank you for being just brilliant. I didn't think I'd ever get to see you dance again. It was so special. Much love. Xxx p.s cheers for the twirl.

Tristan graciously took your questions after the show on Friday, October 20. Enjoy!

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We’ve heard glowing reports from those who have been fortunate enough to see An Evening with Kristina Rihanoff and Tristan MacManus during these first few days of the tour. For those of us who haven’t yet had the pleasure, would you tell us a bit about the show itself?​The shows have been going well. We are doing a mini-tour which was originally going to be a lot longer in the new year, but I will be back in Sydney and not interested in being away from my girls for such a long time. It’s basically a three-week tour—one week in England, a week in Scotland, and a week in Ireland— so I’m driving around the country and seeing a lot of new places I’ve never been to before. We are almost finished with the first week now, and the audiences have been great. It’s just a nice intimate show.Do you have a favorite part of the show, and is there a dance you perform with Kristina that you especially enjoy?

Not really, I don’t have a favorite part. Usually the Q&A is fun because I get to answer questions the way I want to, and I guess that’s how I want to come across. Sometimes when you are on shows you have to say the right things and almost everything is p.c. so when it comes to these shows, it’s a bit like I used to do on It Takes Two—I can say whatever I want. I love dancing to "Wicked Game" in the show. it’s a song I have wanted to dance to for a long, long time but never got the chance. It’s a version by James VIncent McMorrow.

How did the show come together as far as rehearsals, choosing music, dances, etc. and was there a particular song/dance that you wanted included?

To be honest a lot of it was done without me. I was pretty easy when it came to whatever everyone wanted to do. There were some songs that I would have used if I was there from scratch but again Kristina would know the audience more than I would from doing her tours here before. I was happy to go along and just enjoy it. A lot of the songs I have always wanted to dance to in shows may only be songs I like, so it may not work like these do. Rehearsals were quite tough in a way. We didn’t have too much time together, but we did have some charity shows so we danced together a few months before the tour started. Any chance we got free time, we would put some routines together. When I came to Scotland for Mrs. Browns Boys, I’d travel down for the weekend to Kristina and try to piece some more together so it was very spread out but it seems to have worked so far and people have been quite receptive to it.Strictly Theatre Co. has done a fantastic job of producing many types of shows. In what respect is this type of show different from others you have been involved with and what are your thoughts about the amazing work Strictly Theatre Co. is doing?

We have been really lucky with Strictly Theatre Co, and the work they do. It really is great, and that shows in the other productions they have. We are grateful to be working with the team. We have a small team on the road, but it is a really determined hard-working group that are great to be around. What I’ve picked up off the Mrs. Brown's Boy's tour is that a hug goes a long way, and we all support each other daily and keep spirits high and that makes it an enjoyable tour. I’d highly recommend this company and, who knows, we may end up working together again. When it comes to these shows it’s hard to say what is different, you know. Honestly, everyone is in a way doing the same thing in terms of dances and whatnot but it’s the individuals that makes the shows different. It’s a perspective from us and telling our stories and telling them how we want them to be heard. That’s all you can really do.We are hearing that Mark Read is doing a fabulous job of hosting and performing as well. What can you tell us about Mark’s role and do you have a special favorite number that he sings in the show?Mark has been such a great addition to the show, and he does everything. He isn’t just the host as he is so much more important. He has been so good at keeping the audience up, and his vocals have been on point from day one. I hadn’t met Mark before, although I was familiar with his band and didn’t really know what to expect. But from day one he was enthusiastic, accommodating, and professional, and—more important than anything—he is a genuine guy who wants to put on a great show just like Strictly Theatre Co. We couldn’t be happier to have him on board regardless of how short the tour is. I have never been able to suffer fools and sometimes you come across them in this game—haha. He has a great voice and is integral to the success of the show. I love "Take On Me"—hahaha—but I also love his "Wicked Game"and "My Way"versions. Finally, is there anything you would like to share with the fans? (or just say to the somewhat giddy fans)Again, just a big thank you. It’s been a while since I have given you guys anything and I appreciate the unfaltering support. Things are going really well at the moment. I am getting to do a little dancing and also working full-time behind the camera as a producer for Mrs. Browns Boys and my girls are great, so I couldn’t be happier and wish all the same to you guys.

In only a few weeks, Tristan will return to the stage with his Strictly Come Dancing professional partner, Kristina Rihanoff in Strictly Theatre Co.'s An Evening With Kristina Rihanoff and Tristan MacManus. Managing Director, Paul Irving, took time from his busy schedule to talk with us about this very special show as well as his many other productions.

We know you will enjoy this fun Q and A. Show ticket information as well as social media links are provided at the conclusion of this interview.

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First of all, tell us how Strictly Theatre Co. began, how it has grown, and what your vision is for the future.​I first started producing shows in my home town of Great Yarmouth in 1999, when I was seventeen. However, Strictly Theatre Co began much later, in 2015, after I approached Camilla Dallerup about doing a two-night show at the local theatre I was working at, along with her professional partner, Ian Waite. The success of this show led us to do several tours across the country, and Strictly Theatre Co began to grow!We have just produced an extremely successful tour with Strictly Come Dancing professional, Giovanni Pernice, and are excited for Kristina and Tristan’s tour too!My vision for the future is to keep growing the business, putting on more successful tours, with the view of producing a west end musical one day.

We’ve been looking forward to the possibility of a Kristina Rihanoff and Tristan MacManus tour since they were pro partners on Strictly Come Dancing. What can you tell us about their upcoming tour? Knowing what you know about these two extraordinary performers, what do you think the audience can expect to see?

It’s very exciting to see them touring together, finally! They are a fantastic partnership, really fun, and wonderful dancers.

The audience are in for a treat, with awesome dance routines, both ballroom and Latin, great stories about their time on ‘Strictly’, and fun interaction with the audience. Not only does the show have all of that, but it also has the added delights of singer Mark Read, from popular boyband A1, who will be hosting as well as singing for us.

You have already produced a number of shows all over the UK and these have been very successful. Please share a little about some of the shows that are already completed and what you have coming up.

As mentioned above, we have produced some very successful tours with Camilla Dallerup and Ian Waite and also Giovanni Pernice. Giovanni’s tour was a completely different concept to the ‘An Evening with..’ style. We were very keen to create something that no one else was doing, and it really paid off— the tour was a big hit with audiences across the country.

Along with Kristina and Tristan’s tour this autumn, we are also producing Camilla’s farewell tour with Ian, as she is retiring from dancing to concentrate on her new career as a Life Coach in Los Angeles. We are also working with Camilla on her ‘Reinvent Me’ UK tour, which is a workshop that coincides with the release of her new self-help book of the same name.

2018 is set to be a very exciting year for Strictly Theatre Co, so keep an eye out for some announcements very soon…!!

The logistics of putting together a production such as An Evening with Kristina Rihanoff and Tristan MacManus (or any other show) are mind-boggling. What are some of the challenges? How do you go about organizing and making sure it all goes as smoothly as possible? What kind of staffing is required at various show venues?

The hardest part is definitely booking the venues! Ideally you would try to book theatres along an organised route from one to the next. However, as you can imagine it isn’t as simple as it sounds!! Many theatres are not available on the dates you want, creating a logistical nightmare!!

As well as the dancers having their own rehearsals, we always have a ‘tech’ week before the tour starts, so that the show is 100% ready for opening night. We have a great team in place to ensure that everything from lighting, sound, costumes, are perfect, led by the tour manager to oversee everything.The staff of Strictly Theatre Co. has a wealth of experience in the entertainment industry. How did it all come together?

Most of the staff are people we have known or met along the way, as the company has grown.

Karis Day, Director of Productions, started out working for my wife, before they both transitioned over to Strictly Theatre Co when it started getting too busy for me to run on my own!

Kirby Thompson and Tristan Griffen, Sound and Lighting Technicians, both previously worked for the same theatre as I did, so we have built up great working relationships over time.

I am very lucky to have such a good team, who share my passion for theatre and are just as excited about the company’s future as I am.What are some of the most memorable moments from your past shows? I’m sure there have been a few “uh-oh” moments as well—is there anything you can share?

The most memorable moments are when things happen that shouldn’t!! For instance dancers falling over on stage, a female dancer doing a kick, sending one of her ballroom shoes flying thirty feet in the air…luckily just missing the audience!! On a serious note, when the audience reacts with great enthusiasm and standing ovations for a show, it is truly overwhelming.

Tristan mentioned in our last interview that he was very happy to have the opportunity to perform in a show in Ireland. What would you say to his family and friends who are planning to attend?

There is no better feeling than bringing a show to your home, as I have had the opportunity to do with Ian and Camilla. I brought their show to the theatre that I performed in as a child, so for Tristan to be able to come to Ireland must be wonderful for him and his family. I’m sure they will be extremely proud of him and they will definitely be entertained! It made complete sense to take the show to Ireland, especially with Tristan headlining it, along with Kristina.

Finally, do you have a message for Kristina and Tristan’s fans as things heat up for the tour?

If you want to have fun, get some ‘Strictly’ gossip, watch two amazingly talented dancers perform lots of your favourite ballroom and Latin dances, listen to some gorgeous singing, and have a bit of a dance yourselves, then you do not want to miss this show! It’s going to be sensational! BOOK NOW direct with the theatres. We are also putting the finishing touches to a souvenir programme that will be on sale during the tour.

]]>Thu, 08 Jun 2017 01:45:22 GMThttp://www.macmaniacs.org/macmusings/new-interview-with-tristan-june-7-2017Tristan is back in the UK for the next leg of the Good Mourning Mrs. Brown tour. We caught up with him on Wednesday, and he answered lots of your questions. Enjoy!

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You have recently taken a break from dancing but will be performing again this fall. During your time off the dance floor, did you try anything new? (a sport, activity, travel somewhere new, etc.)

Yeah, I've been doing loads of new things since taking the break and, to be honest, it's been really good for me. I'm working as a project manager in Sydney building commercial properties so a fair bit different—ha—but again my head needed the break from what I was doing and not enjoying. I've also joined the RFS and I'm back playing football and, obviously, the best job of all is being a father. I always need to get away from things from time to time to reassess what I'm doing and find out whether I am happy enough doing it or not, so for that reason the break is great. I can try new things and appreciate the old things. If you had the opportunity to sing with any band or solo artist (other than Gladys Knight), who would it be? Do you ever sing to Echo? What’s on the playlist?

I have no interests in singing with famous people, no—ha. I'm happy with the singsong at the house or at the pub. We sing all the time at home for Echo. She loves it.....well, she puts up with it more like, but Tahyna has a lovely voice and she has the talent with the instruments. I just close the eyes, throw the hand in the air, and smash out (perfectly) those Mariah Carey notes / every music is blasting there. Echo loves all sorts—generally an epic remix mashup of Peppa Pig and Giggle and Hoot. Speaking of Echo, have you introduced her to football yet? How about dancing?

Echo watches the football with dad, yeah, and she will sit and watch the UFC but her mammy won't let her— hahaha. She is always dancing around though. Yeah, it's funny. She is gonna be a handful but is a hilarious little girl. She knows how to get what she wants.

What do you like most about being part of the Good Mourning, Mrs. Brown tour? Are you back touring with them in June/July?

We are back on tour with Mrs. Brown’s Boys now. The first show is tomorrow [Thursday, June 8], and I love it as always. I feel very comfortable when I'm with these guys. Everyone just supports each other here and appreciates each other's work and time. Everything is very transparent, and you always know where you stand. If something needs to be said about anything, you will be sure you will hear it firsthand and not through whispers. That's very important to me. It's a positive environment where backstage is equal to onstage, and I love the affection the venues and their staff have for the cast and crew and how much is it returned with no expectations. It's second nature to be kind and thoughtful, so you can't ask for more from your surroundings and the people closest to your family. You were scheduled to dance at the ABBA Festival in May. How did that go? What dances did you do?

ABBA festival was a bit of craic—bizarre and mental but a bit of craic. I'd go back again. We did three dances—Samba, Cha Cha, and Rumba to some of ABBA's songs. I can't remember which ones. Basically, Trundle (the town) shuts down, and the whole place is taken over by ABBA enthusiasts. The people line the streets, and we danced in the middle of the town. The next town over has the biggest Elvis festival, and this was set up to rival it. There is a tribute band, fancy dress, and table quizzes—all that shebang. If you love ABBA, you will have a good time. It was a long, but enjoyable, road trip for the family up there.We were delighted to hear that you will be touring with Kristina Rihanoff this fall. Do you have any details about the tour, when you will begin rehearsals, or any other information? Will you and Kristina be doing the choreography? Is there anything in particular that you are looking forward to with regard to this show? (a venue, the tour itself, the performing, etc.)

Yeah, I’m looking forward to this tour coming up. We will choreograph it and probably start putting ideas together over next few weeks while I'm in the U.K. Initially it will probably be for about three weeks—two in the U.K. and one in Ireland. Mark Read who was in A1 will be hosting and singing, so it should be good. I’m looking forward to doing the Irish shows. I’ve never really done any at home before so that will be special.I don’t know everything about it yet, but I'm guessing it will be all ten dances with probably a few more thrown in, but we will be catching up soon and going through what the plan is.

You have a busy schedule coming up. Are you looking forward to getting back on the dance floor? (And do you have any plans to return to the U.S. anytime soon?)

Lucky enough. it’s going to be very busy for the rest of the year and hopefully some things coming up in the new year. I'd love to come back to the states and do some shows, but it's not that easy just saying “Yeah. I'll do it.” I kind of closed that door. It was making me too frustrated and most shows rightly so need to stay relevant and, in my opinion, need to use people more recent on the tv so who knows? I'll come back and teach for sure, and if timings work, I'd be happy to do some shows.

You’ve choreographed many dances and performed many more, but have you ever been tempted to try songwriting? If so, how did that go for you?

No, I don't do the songwriting. I used to be real smooth and have all the right things to say but had to stop that when I grew up—haha. I absolutely love lyrics and anyone who knows me knows I love doing an impromptu speech now and again, be it gibberish or banter, but the sensitive words are saved now for my girls at home. You said these wise words in one of our interviews back in September, 2012: “Don’t fit in, stand out, be different. There is a place for everyone in everything.” How does that apply, in particular, to those in the entertainment industry?

The entertainment industry is its own beast. Most people think they are more important than they are, but it's also full of genuinely good people following their dreams so it's a fine split. I sometimes notice that people at times find what they like about other people and become that until the new flavor comes. You have to choose what it is you want. For instance, you have to decide what is success to you and appreciate what you do. Some people, as strange as it sounds, rely completely on acceptance of other people and never appreciate their own value. The biggest and most important thing I think you can have is knowing worth—value of worth in yourself, your talents, and the people around you and the people you let in your life. I can't comprehend spending your life trying to impress a bunch of assholes who don't care about what happens to you before or after they have got what they want from you! Do your best and know the value of hard work and achievement. The important thing is your opinion of worth, not someone else's. Finally, a few random words or phrases. Just respond with the first thing that comes to mind.

*dance partnersFarbs and Emma*a food you tried once but will never eat againOysters and shellfish*a beverage you tried once but will never have againThat stuff that tastes like licorice

*RumbaLove it. I just saw a few old dances with Kym recently, and I'd like to some dancing with Kym again. That was always fun. *choreographyDerek stories*teachingLearning. I've met a lot of great people from teaching, and they inspire you and remind you to appreciate what you are lucky enough to do.*teaI love a cuppa tea.*An Evening with Kristina Rihanoff and Tristan MacManus Hopefully fresh, fun, honesty—haha

Tristan is part of the cast of Good Mourning Mrs. Brown and is currently on tour in the UK. He took time to catch up with us and has answered lots of the questions you have sent in for him. This is our 63rd interview with Tristan since July, 2012, and each one is more fun than the last!​****************

Congratulations on being part of the cast of the Good Mourning, Mrs. Brown tour. Will you be doing the full tour and how do you like being on the road again?Thank you, and it's great to hear from you. Things are great. Mrs. Brown’s Boys is amazing as always. I couldn't ask for a better bunch of friends and again, it's another amazing gift from the DWTS and Strictly experience. The tour is broken up into four/ five week stints so the touring isn't too bad, and I have the girls with me which makes it so much easier. Tahyna is writing on the road and producing from the road so we got lucky with timing, and obviously being close to Ireland we got to get home for Echo’s first birthday and christening.You mentioned in the past how funny the entire cast can be and that there is always a lot of laughter when putting on the shows. Have there been any practical jokes backstage? (please share) What parts of the show itself are your favorites?The best thing about Mrs. Brown’s Boys is that most of the practical jokes are all onstage so it's hard work in itself to keep the straight face especially when the changes in the script come about! Everyone in the cast at some stage tries to catch each other out. Offstage funny is just funny between the jokes and the tricks. Most definitely, it's the best kind of work you could be lucky enough to do! It’s been a while since our last Q and A – in November, actually. How was your holiday season and how was your first Christmas as a dad? Now that Echo is a year old, have you been able to keep up with her and is she dancing a Foxtrot yet? Being a dad is the best experience of my life and the proudest I have ever been. My girl is just the greatest little gem, and I couldn't be happier and prouder of her and obviously Tahyna for bringing her into our lives. Christmas was amazing and every day since has been the same. We couldn't believe it was her birthday already and we hadn't seen the guys here since the Oz tour last year when Tahyna was just about to pop so they have all been great with us. They were super excited to finally meet her, and we are definitely that annoying couple who always talks about their kid-—hahaha. She loves music so no doubt she will be dancing before long as she has just started walking.

It doesn’t take long for news to reach us...we read that you will be dancing with Alana Patience at the ABBA Festival in Australia in May. How did that happen? Any idea what tunes you’ll be dancing to?I don't know too much about ABBA just yet. Alana is the best. I hadn't seen her in a long, long time. We caught up recently at a mutual friend’s wedding and said we should put some shows together and dust off the cobwebs so this was literally a few days later she asked if I was up for it. I haven't done any since Strictly and am now looking forward to it and who knows after that?! Do you have any plans to come back over to the states? We are missing you over here.

Ah, who knows? Things change all the time. It wasn't too long that I said I wouldn't ever go back and then a few times over the last couple of years we came close to it, but we have been away for a bit now and concentrating on ourselves and Echo but we would like to come back and spend some time. It all depends on circumstances.We saw that you were able to attend the semi-finals of DWTS Ireland. What are your thoughts on the show? Did you know most of the pro dancers?I think it was great what they did with DWTS Ireland. There were a lot of talks and whispers about me doing it and then rumors about why I didn't do it and I heard that I didn't want anything to do with it. As a new show, I think they did great. I think it gives homegrown talent a chance to show what they can do as well as giving future professionals a goal. It doesn't have to be on par with America or the UK or whatever anyone else was expecting. I thought it was produced very well. I thought the pros smashed it, and I'm glad that now we have our own. I wish them all the success for the future.Speaking of Ireland, did you get to spend some time with your family? How’s Pike doing?We had a few days at home before the tour started yeah, so that was great. Pike is great—very happy and being well-spoiled and looked after. He didn't like the attention he was losing to Echo but sure, what can you do? Haha. Now that you’re traveling again, things will probably be different but what are your favorite things to do for fun these days? Have you been doing a bit of dancing?Yeah, everything has changed these days alright, but for the better. I think I still do most the same things just not as often and for not as long—ha. I haven't been doing any dancing, no, but like I said I needed the break from it and now I may come back into it a bit more with a new perspective again which always does me good every so often—freshens up your head and your attitude.Now some just plain nosy questions from your fans:You once said that you get bored just thinking about golf. What about pool? Have you ever tried billiards and are you any good?Yeah, I used to love playing pool, but I wasn't consistently good, just consistently bad with a dash of amazing trick shots and lucky breaks—haha. Everyone I know seems to love golf, and now the Masters has started. It's all I'm hearing about, but I’m still no closer to getting on the green.What’s the worst movie you’ve ever seen?I have seen many, many movies I hope to never see again or wish nothing more than going back in time to erase it from my brain. I just don't want to mention any—hahaha.Just for laughs, we started a topic on the forum where we ask people to tell us a song that they hope you never have to dance to…..do you have one to add to our growing list? (So far, "Gangnam Style," "Who Let the Dogs Out," "Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)," and "Macarena" top the list)“Whip/Nae Nae”—holy lord have mercy—never, ever, ever.Is there any chance of you doing another triathlon?I would like to do another, but to be honest, I still don't understand why once I did that last one, I lost complete motivation after it. I loved it, so I have no clue why. I think I was just drained from everything and that came at the end, but I'm back running now and in the water so who knows.What is an activity or sport that you have never tried and don't really care to try?Sumo. I don't like the thought of wearing diapers. Along those same lines, what is something you have tried and don't want to try again? (could be a sport, food, etc.Ahahaha! I had a night out with some friends from home a few days ago and when I came back to life the next day i swore I'd never do that again...................I'm an awful liar though.Other than getting a spray tan, was there ever a time on DWTS or SCD when you thought to yourself “I’m never doing that again!”At one stage, it was a weekly occurrence to be fair—ha. I said many times before that it really is wherever your head is or, for that matter, wherever my head was when things were suggested or decided that makes me go along with it or switch. Sometimes I have very clear intentions of how I want to do things or how I want to react to things and when I can't make those decisions for myself and I'm told how it's going to go, frustration is my biggest enemy. Sometimes again you need to take a step back and realize you are a piece of a puzzle and either accept it or not. At the time, the unfortunate thing is that it seems like the biggest issue in the world and it really isn't—perspective.Finally, you’re going to be very busy off and on for the next several months with the tour, but will you getting back to Australia for extended periods of time?Yes, we will be going back to Sydney and wherever else we need to go between the blocks of weeks where we will tour. I may have a few more shows happening in the UK. and maybe the states over the next while so we will just have to wait and see how it all pans out.

]]>Tue, 29 Nov 2016 04:44:11 GMThttp://www.macmaniacs.org/macmusings/five-yearsand-countingFive years ago today, MacManiacs.org was launched, and what a wild five years it has been.

This all happened just after Tristan and Nancy Grace finished their run on DWTS Season 13. We started off with a few pages that included some videos, photos, blog posts, and the forum. That forum, MacManiaLand, was and still is the cornerstone of the site and our busiest page. With currently nearly 1,310,000 views, it continues to evolve. We talk about anything and everything – except politics or controversial topics – and we have fun every single day. We’ve made friends, many of us have gone together to see Tristan in one show or another, and we’ve worked together on interviews, blog posts, and forum ideas. Several brave souls volunteer their time to monitor the forum for the occasional troll or naughty behavior. Others run various threads and keep conversation moving, and somehow it all works. Sadly, we have also lost a few of our members, but they are certainly not forgotten.

If I tried to tell you everything we’ve done here since the beginning, you would be reading for days, so I’ll give you the condensed version. Since July, 2012, we have interviewed Tristan a total of 62 times – yes, 62. As long as he is willing to answer our questions, we will keep sending them. We have also been fortunate enough to interview Tahyna MacManus, Oksana Dmytrenko Platero, Kristina Rihanoff, Emma Slater, Sasha Farber, Jasmine Takacs, Antonio Martinez, Jason Leppert, Nikki Lorenzo, Henry Byalikov, Andy Steinhauser, Fiona Whyte, Risa Kaplowitz, and Gina Carbone – and that’s not all.

Different pages come and go and we try to switch things up now and then. It’s the forum where things really happen and yes, we do talk about Tristan – a lot – but we do lots of other things as well. Much of that is completely random.

For example, we do trivia better than anybody. We have had more trivia threads than we can count on many different subjects that include movies, television, music, DWTS, SCD, Tristan, and even trivia about our forum.

We’ve talked about dances we loved and dances we hated. Most of us have an aversion to shirtless dancers, skimpy costumes, sheer anything, and costumes with yellow feathers, excessive sparkles, sequins, and rhinestones.

It’s safe to say that we use social media but the majority who took our poll don’t like it for the most part and don’t use it often or regularly.

Polls. You name it, we’ve done it. From the serious to the silly, here are just a few results.

*Props in dances – Most of us can’t stand them.

*Theme Weeks – a big no.

*Extra backing dancers in pro/celebrity dances – Hell no.

*Len Goodman is our favorite judge from either DWTS or SCD.

*Of all the songs Tristan has mentioned in our interviews, our forum members named “Hollywood Nights” as their favorite.

*Of the Charleston, Samba, Merengue, and Viennese Waltz (yes, we realize that is an odd combination), more of us feel we are least suited for the Viennese Waltz. (I guess the word elegant and ballroom-like isn’t in the dictionary definition of “MacManiac.”)

*We agreed with Rolling Stone’s 2011 #1 ballad all-time choice of “Stairway To Heaven” – even though our lists of top ballads didn’t match their list. We decided to play nice and vote based on their choices.

*It’s a toss-up as to the favorite song by a girl group – “Alone” by Heart or “Eternal Flame” by the Bangles.

*We took five songs used for pro numbers on DWTS, and the one we most wanted to see Tristan dance to is “Rock This Town” as performed by the Brian Setzer Orchestra. *We talk a lot about important things like ice cream and there was no definitive favorite although Double Chocolate Chip and Peanut Butter and Chocolate pulled a couple more votes than the rest.

*We want to see Tristan dance a Samba with Oksana Platero or Karina Smirnoff, a Rumba with Oti Mabuse, Kristina Rihanoff, or Edyta Sliwinska, and an Argentine Tango with Cheryl Burke. In addition, we think Karina Smirnoff is the most entertaining female pro.

*The dance we most like seeing Tristan perform is the Jive.

*The ballroom dance we most like to see performed (by Tristan or anyone else) is the Foxtrot, and the chosen Latin dance is the Samba (followed closely by the Cha Cha and Jive).

*Our randomness continues with our favorite “school” song (song with the word “school” in the title) – “Be True To Your School” followed by “School’s Out” and “Rock N’ Roll High School.”

*Our forum members love NCIS, Sherlock, and Hawaii Five-0, snd only a few have seen Outlander. We also love sports.

*We even did a survey on ABBA songs (sorry, Tristan), and the winner was “Dancing Queen” by a large margin.

*From a list of five random pro dances Tristan was in on DWTS and SCD, we would most like to see “Dark Side/Stronger” again.

*As far as dances we think suit Tristan’s personality? We chose the Jive and Foxtrot.

*Our favorite songs by the Eagles are “Hotel California” and “Desperado.”

*And then there are the “crazy” songs…our favorites? “Crazy” by Patsy Cline, “Crazy On You” by Heart, and “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” by Queen. For the “wild” songs, we chose “Wild Thing” by The Troggs, “Wild World” by Cat Stevens, and “Wild Horses” by the Rolling Stones.

*The madness continued. We loved songs with “eyes” in the title and the poll winner was “Brown Eyed Girl” by Van Morrison followed by “My Eyes Adored You” (Frankie Valli). “City” songs? “Philadelphia Freedom” was our choice. “Dreams”? That winner was “Dream A Little Dream Of Me” by the Mamas and the Papas.

*And when we asked the forum members that if Tristan actually was willing to do the MacManiac group dance to “Shout” from Wedding Crashers (he chose the song incidentally, not us) would they do it? You betcha. There was a 100% “yes indeedy” vote.

Like I said, we talk about almost everything and do polls and surveys just because we like to have something for everyone who comes to the forum. We never, ever run out of things to talk about. We do random better than anyone.

We talk about traveling and our travels, where we would like to go and where we have been. We have a thread dedicated to photos of Ireland and another for photos of other wonderful places on our planet. Yet another is devoted just to Oksana Platero and Judge Rinder on Strictly Come Dancing because they are just pure fun and make us smile, and everybody needs to smile a little more, right?

With more than 100 threads (and a large number have been deleted over the last few years just because we wanted to) topics are varied to include lots about Tristan but just as many about other pros, dancing, entertainment, and a subject near and dear to us – food. In other words, we have a good time, we don’t take ourselves too seriously, and we don’t let the trolls come in and ruin the fun.

We’re going to making a few changes to the website over the next few months and you might see some new pages and definitely some new forum threads. We all came together in our support for Tristan, and that is what we will keep on doing. It’s been so much fun these first five years, and huge thanks to all of you who have made it happen. Special hugs to those who have been with us since the early days and those who are giving us record views these days and everyone in between who stopped in for a quick peek at the site.

We hope you will all Cha Cha or Waltz over and say hello. Fun is never overrated.]]>Mon, 28 Nov 2016 22:26:36 GMThttp://www.macmaniacs.org/macmusings/interview-with-tristan-november-29-2016

Photo Courtesy of Katie Reed

Photo Courtesy of J. Richman

Photo Courtesy of J. Richman

In honor of the fifth anniversary of this website's launch (November 29, 2011), we asked three of the forum members who have been with us since the very beginning to come up with questions for Tristan for a new interview. As always, Tristan happily answered them and also sent along a very sweet message for all of you who have kept the site thriving for the last five years. Since our forum recently surpassed 1.3 million views, his messages are especially meaningful to us all. We will keep going as long as you keep showing up here! Thanks to Babs, Jamie, and Carol for the great questions, and thank you to everyone who supports Tristan and this website.

***************

Message from Tristan​​​"I can't believe it's been five years this website has been running. You guys are unreal! Thank you so much for showing interest in something so uninteresting as my life - hahaha. All the best to you all and keep enjoying the show and focus on what makes you happy!

Congrats on keeping all your forums and stories so interesting and enjoyable for everyone - whether it's related to me or not. I'm glad you guys have found each other - 'keep her lit!' "

***************

The Interview

You and Tahyna were the hosts of Elena Samodanova’s Ballroom Superstars Dance Ball on October 22. Would you tell us a little bit about that and how it came together? Do you have plans to do future work with Elena?

Yeah, we did Elena’s show, and we had a blast. It just happened over dinner, to be honest. We were out with the kids, and Elena was talking about the show. We said we would help out however they needed us, and then she asked if we would host it which we were more than happy to do. We are glad we did. We met some great dancers there, and Elena and Alex had put together a great show so you never know - we may do more in the future. At the time, it was just a new show, so it’s always difficult to get going and there are a lot of costs involved. We were happy to help our friends out.[Note: The following 2 questions regarding Shall We Dance on Ice and any additional time in the U.S. were asked and answered prior to Tristan having to withdraw from the show due to injury.]

You are listed as being one of the professional dancers in Shall We Dance on Ice in Las Vegas in December. That is another incredibly talented cast of performers in music, skating, and dance. Do you have any more details about this yet or do you know what type of rehearsal will be involved prior to the show?

I’m not too sure as yet – still waiting to hear what the plan is, but I’ll be dancing with Chelsie so I’d imagine I will come into town a few days in advance and put some things together and then when we get to Vegas, we will rehearse with the cast and learn the group numbers together. I know one or two of the skaters who I met while dancing with Dorothy but most of them I will be meeting for the first time as they did the show after I had left.Do you have plans for other performances or teaching while in the states? Will you be staying for a while this time?

No plans, no. I don't think I will be doing any this time round.First, it was wonderful getting to see you perform again in Dance To the Movies back in August. We loved the cast, concept, and show itself. What did you like about this show? What were the standout numbers for you?

Yes, Dance To the Movies was great. Just like BWAT, the cast are great and so down to earth. I always enjoy spending time with them and I hadn't seen Karina, Chelsie, or Jon for a long time so that was good to catch up. I loved the James Bond numbers because I love the music, but I know Kiki and Magda usually do the section I did and I miss seeing those guys and would have loved to see them do it. The cast had a few new guys I hadn't met before either, and that energy is always great when a new cast comes together.

Do you have any plans to return to the U.S. for the spring tour of Dance To the Movies or are your plans still up in the air at this point? Do you have other things in the works right now?

You never know what’s going to happen, but I have chronic knee pain and slipped discs in my back and neck that flare up so much that the thought of it isn't that appealing to me. I have a job in Sydney I really enjoy so that’s what I am concentrating on at the minute.A lot of people have asked us about Dancing with the Stars Ireland. Have you been approached about being involved or do you know anything about the structure and similarities/differences to DWTS US and SCD? Would you like to be involved in some way?

Yeah, it’s good that they are finally doing one in Ireland. I was surprised when it was announced as I hadn't heard anything about it until I got messages from Ireland asking about it, and I had been contacted about it later on to be involved but again I have a job that I enjoy here that I had committed to. It would mean leaving that and moving my family again for three months or whatever it is. It’s been a long time since we could actually get settled somewhere, and I absolutely love Sydney. I always wanted to be a part of a show in Ireland but everything has to be right for all parties to make that work. I think the show will do very well, and I'm glad it’s happening and I'm glad it’s giving Irish professionals a platform to show our talent. It really is about time, so I’ll be happy to help out which they know but not in a full time capacity at this stage for that amount of time.Have you followed what’s going on with the pros and celebrities on DWTS and SCD this year or is it a case of out of sight, out of mind?I haven't seen too much to be honest, but I’m still in touch with most of the crew on Strictly, and Oti and I talk a lot. I had to reach out to Laura being a Bray head, then obviously with DWTS I talk to Farbs and Emma so I’m delighted he is doing so well but no, I don't watch the show. Tahyna loves it though. I’m sure I never watched it when I was in it myself. HAHAHAYou occasionally performed non-Latin and non-Ballroom dance styles on DWTS/SCD. Have you ever trained in any of these other areas or did you just learn it as you went along?

No, I never trained in any other style. I’m actually surprised you had to ask that – haha! I learned them when I had to, but all these styles I prefer to watch. I don't feel comfortable doing them or really enjoy it too much, but I appreciate people who do and I love to watch anyone do a style they love. The only other style I ever had an interest in really was tap. I never did it, but I love it. The rest I can enjoy as a spectator. I have never had a critical eye, so I can enjoy shows and numbers for what they are. There is nothing worse than people picking out things wrong with something you are enjoying watching. Competition I get is different, but I’m talking generally.Now for some other general stuff -If someone knew very little about Irish music/musicians, which artists would you put at the top of your recommended list?

Luke Kelly Christy MooreFoy VanceDamien RiceFiachra Treacy (Columbia Mills)Bell X1Not in that order but you should listen to all these guys.What do you like most about living in Australia?

Everything - the weather, the mentality, my surroundings, my family - I just love it here.When you haven’t performed or danced for a while, do you miss it and have any desire to get back on stage?

No, I don't - I have had a great time doing what I did, but I don't like to dwell on things. I had a good time at the time, but my knees hate me now, and I’m happy with what is going on. I’ll look back on a lot of it and smile, but I’ll remember it how I do.You once said that after you do some dances you forget about them and move on. If you had to name 10 performances from DWTS, could you do it?

I’m sure I could remember some numbers but not the actual dances start to finish. Again, it’s one of those things that you remember weird things about them. I would remember moments when Nancy would be looking for a fight - haha - or rightly so proud of herself or when Gladys laughed and cheered me up. I’d remember just sitting and watching Valerie go through everything or Pam deciding what she wanted to do or talking about life, just weird things, certain things we may have talked about - conversations or comments and reactions immediately after each dance or the next day but not so much of the dance itself.And from a standpoint of pure fun and having a great time, which show (DWTS, SCD, Ballroom With A Twist, Burn the Floor, etc.) best fits that description for you?

Probably little bits of each. They were all at different times in my life. I loved and hated them all at different times for different reasons but I'm glad I experienced them all - certain characters can depend on the day - haha.You told us a couple of months ago that Echo loves Elmo and Winnie the Pooh. When you were a little guy growing up, did you have any favorite toys?As a kid, I just loved football. Thats all I remember - playing football and having muck ball fights. I’m sure I had toys that I loved, but I just remember sports.Now to the most important question of all. You’ve been all over the world and have probably visited lots of Irish pubs. Where were the best ones? (including Ireland)The best Irish pubs are the ones I was in on that particular night.Is Pike still living the good life in Ireland?​Pike is the most spoiled animal on the face of the planet - of course he is loving every second of it!Finally, how’s the family and how much are you enjoying seeing your daughter change every single day?

Being a dad is, to any man, the luckiest and most amazing thing that could ever happen to anyone and to be the father of this particular child and husband to this woman makes me the luckiest of them all.